Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Kalamazoo, MI
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Kalamazoo-Portage, MI metro area earn a median $28,790 a year — 8% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $24,340 take-home, or $2,028 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Kalamazoo, MI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,275
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,785
- Medicare (1.45%)$417
- Michigan income tax$973
- Take-home pay$24,340
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.25% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Fast Food and Counter Worker pay by experience in Kalamazoo, MI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $25,960 | $12.48 | $22,136 | $1,845 |
| 25th percentile | $27,820 | $13.38 | $23,588 | $1,966 |
| Median (50th) | $28,790 | $13.84 | $24,340 | $2,028 |
| 75th percentile | $31,820 | $15.30 | $26,646 | $2,220 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $35,290 | $16.97 | $29,286 | $2,441 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Michigan resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $28,790 buys in Kalamazoo, MI
Prices in Kalamazoo, MI are 5.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 18% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $24,340 take-home pay has the buying power of $25,664 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Fast Food and Counter Worker jobs are about as common in Kalamazoo, MI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.06).
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Kalamazoo, MI ranks #163 of 241 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Modesto, CA | $42,630 | $35,184 | $33,796 |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | $44,110 | $36,295 | $33,458 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $43,610 | $35,920 | $33,326 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $44,570 | $36,640 | $33,182 |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | $42,860 | $35,357 | $33,146 |
| 6 | Stockton, CA | $41,740 | $34,517 | $32,845 |
| 7 | Riverside, CA | $42,280 | $34,922 | $32,808 |
| 8 | Salinas, CA | $43,260 | $35,657 | $32,701 |
| 163 | Kalamazoo, MI | $28,790 | $24,340 | $25,664 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 241 metros →
About the job: fast food and counter workers
Perform duties such as taking orders and serving food and beverages. Serve customers at counter or from a steam table. May take payment. May prepare food and beverages. Counter attendants who also wait tables are included in "Waiters and Waitresses" (35-3031),
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.8% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Fast Food and Counter Worker salaries elsewhere in Michigan
- Ann Arbor, MI — $33,220
- Muskegon, MI — $28,850
- Flint, MI — $28,330
- Lansing, MI — $28,640
- Grand Rapids, MI — $28,240
- Detroit, MI — $29,590
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Kalamazoo, MI?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Kalamazoo-Portage, MI metro area is $28,790 a year, or about $13.84 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $27,820 and $31,820.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Kalamazoo, MI?
On the median $28,790 salary, a single filer living in Michigan takes home about $24,340 a year ($2,028 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $973 in Michigan taxes in 2026.
Is Kalamazoo, MI a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 8% below the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 5.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $25,664 would in a typical U.S. city. Kalamazoo, MI ranks #163 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Kalamazoo, MI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Kalamazoo, MI is $998 a month ($1,162 for two bedrooms) — 49% of a median fast food and counter worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.